The Netherlands: Eleven new faces for Schaerweijde: ‘We are getting tough’

With an exhausted budget, nine players who have left and have eleven new faces, Schaerweijde, the promoter, have the difficult task to keep his head in the big league in the big league. Bravely, new coach Razwan Ahmed, successor to the deceased Albert-Kees Manenschijn, puts his shoulders under the radically renewed Schaerweijde. “Our biggest task is to forge a coherent team as quickly as possible.”

“Razwan, do you know there are only ten of you?” Just before the second quarter of the training match on Sunday afternoon against HDM (0-0), it is the referee who points out that the number of players that Schaerweijde has in the lines. Indeed: people are missing. The new coach of the Zeist coach quickly turns to the midfielder Michiel Moret of the Dugout and gestures in the field. It is clear: the new Schaerweijde is not yet familiar with its automaticity.

That inaccuracy on the field is reflected in the fiery performance of Ahmed along the line. He moves like a conductor for sixty minutes. His arms are constantly on the move, Drily Wijs and Coach. Every occasion he enters to adjust his orchestra. “Pep, in!” “Michiel, higher!” “Joost, Joost me!”

In many conversations with the replacements, he calls on a tactic board. This is followed by a passionate argument about what the intention is. The red and blue discs shoot over the plate with lightning speed under his fingers. With so many new faces, Ahmed has a lot of work to do in preparation.

The budget for top hockey received a solid hit, despite the promotion

‘I didn’t hesitate for a second whether I should take on this challenge. My first thought was immediately: where can I sign? “A moment later the friendly Ahmed shines in the clubhouse of Schaerweijde. Schaerweijde and started his coaching career.

‘I started with the youth, I worked as an assistant with the men and I went to the women’s head coach. This is my club, “said Ahmed, who has been an assistant coach at the Den Bosch men’s team in recent years.

Despite the promotion of the Tulip main class, Schaerweijde has had to deal with a new, less shiny reality in recent months. The years in which the club could afford expensive foreigners are a thing of the past. The budget for top hockey received a serious hit. Many determining players left the club: Thies Bakker (Kampong), Lucas Corstens (Amsterdam), Jur van den Haven, Thur Stadelmaier, Jort Marree and Pakistani former internationals Rashid Mehmood and Muhammad Rizwan (all stop). With the departure of nine players, only half of the team remained.

Jens Hagen Played with Gooische In The Transition Class Last Season. Photo: Andre Weening/Orange Pictures

‘The facilities are still the main class’

‘From my appointment in April I knew that the budget was tight. But after the promotion it turned out to be even further, “Ahmed outlines the challenge that he waited for this summer. Instead of complaining, he decided to accept the situation and put his shoulders on the wheel.

‘We can no longer pay foreigners, so I didn’t have to look for that. Some players I approached myself. Others called me. Some boys were initially a bit hesitant because of the stories that went around Schaerweijde. But of course it was not as if Heren 1 had become a kind of boys A1. The facilities are still worthy of the big league. The food is good, the equipment is fine, there are cars available. In the end we were able to convince many boys. At the first training session we were even 23 boys. ‘

With the help of the tactic board, Razwan Ahmed Peppe Veen explains exactly what the intention is. Photo: Andre Weening/Orange Pictures

With eleven new faces it will take time to get used to each other.

There was a complete line-up of new faces, including brothers Stijn and Lode Draaijer (Ede), Joost van Eijck (Victoria) and Jens Hagen (Gooische) from the Promotion League and the Transition League. Released from the Big League Were Maarten Bruisten (SCHC), Graeme Scott (Hurley) and goalkeepers Mahinder Terlouw (Hurley) and Guus van Holten (Rotterdam). From Oranje-Red Under 18 Came Talent Derk Moret, While Teun Van Aalderen and Tom Vermeulen Joined from Our Own Youth.

With eleven new players it will take time to get used to each other. That is why Schaerweijde has planned seven exhibition games before the start of the competition. The first results show a mixed image: a good draw against HDM (0-0), a small defeat against promotion class SCHC (2-1) and a big victory for Promotion Class Ede (5-1). Sunday is waiting for the next qualification, against Hurley, followed by the ABN AMRO weekend. The task of Ahmed is to change the loose puzzle pieces into a whole that is resilient in the main class in a limited time.

‘Our biggest task is to forge a coherent team as quickly as possible. That is what I told those guys: invest together, every exercise, every game. We can be tactical as a house, but if we are not a team, we will leave. So that’s where our focus is. The faster we are a team, the harder it will be to beat us, “Ahmed, who had preferred a few more irons in the fire. An experienced striker would have been welcome with more financing.

Stijn Draaijer is One of Schaerweijde’s Eleven New Faces. Photo: Andre Weening/Orange Pictures

I want us to get off the field every game, regardless of the outcome. We can say that: we fought for every meter Schaerweijde Coach Razwan Ahmed

Nevertheless, the team looked surprisingly fresh in the practice match against HDM. Schaerweijde played nicely in the first half. After the break the photo tilts: HDM puts the promoter with his back to the wall. Thanks to the saves of goalkeeper Guus van Holten, it is that Schaerweijde stays upright. In the last minute, Zeist’s club was given the opportunity to win, but the penalty corner was not cashed in. Afterwards, sentiment is positive. The 0-0 feels like a success, given all the circumstances.

“Of course we are going to have a hard time,” Ahmed knows. ‘But I want us to continue to fight, as we did today. Like a team. I want us to get off the field every game, regardless of the outcome. We can say that: we fought for every meter. At the end we will see where we are in the competition table. ‘